In pictures: Boko Haram militants take fight into Chad . I can’t get the video to post but click the Chad link above and go there.
© Adel Gastel, FRANCE 24 | The village of Ngouboua, on Lake Chad, was raided by Boko Haram militants early on Friday
Latest update : 2015-02-14
The village of Ngouboua has become the first Chadian casualty of Boko Haram’s deadly insurgency. FRANCE 24’s Adel Gastel and Willy Bracciano bring you this exclusive report from the stricken outpost near the border with Nigeria.
Seen from above, the devastation is daunting. Everywhere, the burnt-out ruins of homes, trucks and motorbikes are still smouldering. Not even the livestock was spared by Boko Haram’s murderous spree.
Nestled in the swamps of Lake Chad, the village of Ngouboua is the first casualty of Boko Haram’s war on Chad. Friday’s brazen raid was the first incursion by the Nigerian Islamist sect on Chadian soil.
The people of Ngouboua, located a 10 hours’ drive from the capital, N’Djamena, are visibly in shock. With the Nigerian border just 20km away, many had been expecting an attack.
Days ago, Boko Haram had warned local chief Mai Kolle of his impending death. He was felled by a stray bullet, along with two other civilians and a Chadian soldier.
A day after the deadly rampage, Chadian officials are out en force reassuring villagers and organizing reinforcements. Women and children board pick-up trucks destined for safer areas.
Chad’s army, known as one of Africa’s most battle-hardened, has joined a regional offensive against Boko Haram and claims to have killed hundreds of fighters in the past fortnight.
But with the insurgency spreading across the region, its own territory is now on the frontline.
See FRANCE 24’s special report by clicking on the video above.
“SIL Chad has no personnel in the area affected by the recent Boko Haram attack on Ngouboua village on Lake Chad. One family that was living in another lakeside town returned to the capital this weekend as a precaution. Chad’s military is fighting Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon, and though the Chadian capital is close to those areas, as the crow flies, we do not anticipate trouble here in N’djamena. Please pray for the Lord to intervene and protect Chad.”
Thanks for praying
Thanks for praying
